The test evaluates your ability to understand, interpret, and apply information. There are 35 questions to be completed within 90 minutes. These are based on reading passages and interpreting graphics such as charts, graphs, diagrams, editorial cartoons, photographs, and maps. You MUST earn a score of at least 145 to pass.
Content
50% Civics and Government
20% U.S. History
15% Economics
15% Geography and the World
Many of the social studies readings come from the founding documents of this country, or documents analyzing these founding documents. Our major founding documents include the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. Other important historical documents include the Mayflower Compact, the Articles of Confederation, the Stamp Act, the Emancipation Proclamation, and various historical speeches. You will also be asked about certain historical U.S. Supreme Court Cases, such as Brown vs. the Board of Education and Roe v. Wade.
Two Major Social Studies Themes Most of the questions will center around two main themes:
1. Development of Modern Liberties and Democracy: This includes questions about how democracy developed, and how it turned into the government structure and policies we have today. It traces how major thinkers and events have shaped our current thinking about democracy, human and civil rights.
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For example: How did the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s change America’s views about racial equality? Preparation for this theme would include studying:
-the birth of democracy in the USA
-human and civil rights topics throughout the world and time
-major events that shaped American values
-famous thinkers who contributed ideas to our democracy
2. Dynamic Responses in Societal Systems: Questions related to this second theme explore how the systems, structures and policies that people have created respond to each other, conditions, and events. For example, civilizations have developed and changed in response to particular geographic features and natural events; the US made the Louisiana Purchase to gain control of New Orleans and the Mississippi River.
Preparation for this theme would include studying:
how countries, cultures and people interact
how civilizations have changed in response to geographic features and natural disasters.
economic issues such as supply and demand
pressures that influence national economies.
80% of the social studies questions will require you to more than just recall information in a text. Here are some examples of things you will be asked to do:
Explain the cause and effect of historical events, like the Revolutionary War.
Give reasons why an event happened or why people act the way they do.
Compare two events from different time periods or different parts of the world.
Recognize and explain patterns in history
Evaluate the effectiveness of decisions and their impact on people.
Sort items into meaningful categories
Examine alternatives and predict the best option
Here are more examples of things you will be asked to do in social studies questions 80% of the questions at this level are critical thinking. You can also get more ideas about what is covered by looking at Common Core State Standards as well as National Standards for History.
Know Key US Documents
Many of the social studies readings come from the founding documents of this country, or documents analyzing these founding documents. Our major founding documents include
To do well on the social studies test, you should become familiar with these documents. Here is a site that summarizes some of the most important: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0101289.html
You should be familiar with what these documents are about, but you do not need to memorize them. The GED does not ask questions like "What does the 12th Amendment to the United States Constitution say?"
One of your readings on your extended response, and sometimes in the multiple choice section will often be "primary source documents." Primary documents are the original documents written years ago. They are often difficult to read, because English was often written in a different style a few hundred year ago. You should practice reading the original documents whenever possible to get familiar with the writing style of some of these famous U.S. documents. You will encounter at least one on your GED social studies test! Tips for Reading Historical Documents
Some Very Basic Social Studies Videos for GED Students
These short videos cover some vital basic information about American history and government that you are expected to already know before you take your social studies test.
Levels and Branches of U.S. Government (Democracy/Checks and Balances/Federalism, etc) After watching the video, click here to check your understanding with a few review questions.
Colonialism & Early Exploration in America (Columbus, pilgrims, colonies, slaves, etc.) After watching the video, try these three review questions.
The Revolutionary War
The Civil War After watching the video, click here to show what you know about the Civil War for your GED test. (3 questions)
World War II - 1923 (Roosevelt, Great Depression, Stock Market Crash, Fascism, Hitler, Holocaust, Japan, Pearl Harbor, Allied Forces, D-Day, etc) After watching the video, try these 3 practice questions about WW2.
TEST
The test evaluates your ability to understand, interpret, and apply information. There are 35 questions to be completed within 90 minutes. These are based on reading passages and interpreting graphics such as charts, graphs, diagrams, editorial cartoons, photographs, and maps. You MUST earn a score of at least 145 to pass.Content
50% Civics and Government
20% U.S. History
15% Economics
15% Geography and the World
Types of Questions
Multiple-choice
Fill-in-the-blank
Drop-down
Hot-spot
Drag-and-drop
Extended Response (25 minutes allotted)
TUTORIALS and PRACTICE TESTS
Branches of Government PiktochartOfficial 1/4 length GED Practice Test (take this right before you think you want to do the Ready Test)
Online Practice w/ New Reader's Press--this is really a good practice set!
GED Practice Tests
GED Social Studies Tips
4Tests practice tests
GED Study Guide practice tests
GED Study Guide Practice
Union Test Prep Flashcards
Union Test Prep Practice Tests
Union Test Prep Study Guide
Best GED Practice Tests (timed and untimed)
GED Practice Tests
Best GED Video Programs
Social Studies Essay
Naturalization Civics Questions
Citizenship Test
Scoring Guide for SS
Social Studies Vocabulary Practices and Games
Learning Express Hub - Must REGISTER through the top right link. And then click on "Prepare for the GED." Tutorials as well as practice tests on this site. Worth the time!
Power My Learning - Go to "sign up" in upper right, after you complete the form, there will be the option to start exploring or to join classes. Choose join classes. Follow the prompts and then fill in class code 803644 for the Social Studies class. There are LOTS of videos/weblinks to our course topics. Use whichever ones you need to increase your skills!
Study.com
Contemporary SS Test
Study Guide Zone
TestPrepSkills
ClassZone
Geography 4kids (Don't let the name bother you--it's for everyone!)
Geography Lesson
Current Events
5 Themes of Geography
Interactive Maps and Social Studies
Ducksters History Resources
Infographic about the Types of Government
GAMES
VOCABULARY.COM CLASSROOMUS History Jeopardy
Jeopardy Social Studies
Themes of History and Geography
Social Studies Vocab. Cram
Quizlet Vocab Practice lists
QuizTree
Annenberg Interactive Games
Geography Games
World Geography Games
Geography Map Games
Early Colonial History
13 Colonies
13 Colonies Hangman
The First Americans
Jamestown
The Colonies Become New Nations and Struggles for Democracy
American Colonial Government and Policies
Foundations of American Government
Leading to the American Revolution
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence Quiz
Declaration, Articles, and Constitution
American Revolution
Revolutionary War
Revolutionary War Review
American Revolution
American Revolution Challenge
Confederation to Constitution
US Constitution
US Constitution #3
Constitution
Bill of Rights
Industrial Revolution
Antibellum Life
Civil War
Civil War Events and People
Reconstruction
Causes of WWI
The Great War (WWI)
WWI Challenge
World War I
1920's
1920's Figures
The Great Depression
The Rise of Dictators and WWII
Nazism in Power
WWII
WWII Rags to Riches
WWII Challenge
Who's Who of WWII
WWII Ordering
WWII Test
Game on Social Studies
Videos on US History
John Green's Crash Course in US History (LOTS OF VIDEOS)
American Revolution
Who Won the American Revolution
The Black Legend, Native Americans, and Spaniards
Coal, Steam and the Industrial Revolution
American Imperialism
America in WWI
The Great Depression
The New Deal
World War II: Part 1
World War II: Part 2
The Cold War
Civil Rights and the 50's
The 1960's in America
Crash Course
Crash Course Playlist
Extended Response Video
Cracking the Code Video
MOMETRIX Videos (TONS OF VIDEOS ON ALL TOPICS)
TJ ACE
BestGED SS Prep
WatchKnowLearn
CIVICS SCHMOOP
GED Study Guide
How to write the Extended Response
Active History
Primary and Secondary Source Documents
Library of CongressCivics and Citizenship
icivics
(Info below taken from https://englishwithelizabeth-ged.wikispaces.com/Social+Studies)
The "Great American Conversation"
Two Major Social Studies Themes
Most of the questions will center around two main themes:
1. Development of Modern Liberties and Democracy:
This includes questions about how democracy developed, and how it turned into the government structure and policies we have today. It traces how major thinkers and events have shaped our current thinking about democracy, human and civil rights.
Preparation for this theme would include studying:
2. Dynamic Responses in Societal Systems:
Questions related to this second theme explore how the systems, structures and policies that people have created respond to each other, conditions, and events.
For example, civilizations have developed and changed in response to particular geographic features and natural events; the US made the Louisiana Purchase to gain control of New Orleans and the Mississippi River.
Preparation for this theme would include studying:
80% of the social studies questions will require you to more than just recall information in a text. Here are some examples of things you will be asked to do:
Here are more examples of things you will be asked to do in social studies questions 80% of the questions at this level are critical thinking. You can also get more ideas about what is covered by looking at Common Core State Standards as well as National Standards for History.
Know Key US Documents
Many of the social studies readings come from the founding documents of this country, or documents analyzing these founding documents. Our major founding documents include
Other important historical documents include:
You will also be asked about certain historical U.S. Supreme Court Cases, such as
More important U.S. documents and practice interpreting them:
FDR's speech after the bombing of Pearl Harbor - 12/8/1941
Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Speech on Women's Suffrage at Seneca Falls - 7/19/1848
You can read the actual historical documents online at the US Library of Congress at**http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/help/constRedir.html**.
Also check out: http://www.greatamericandocuments.com/
You should be familiar with what these documents are about, but you do not need to memorize them. The GED does not ask questions like "What does the 12th Amendment to the United States Constitution say?"
One of your readings on your extended response, and sometimes in the multiple choice section will often be "primary source documents." Primary documents are the original documents written years ago. They are often difficult to read, because English was often written in a different style a few hundred year ago. You should practice reading the original documents whenever possible to get familiar with the writing style of some of these famous U.S. documents. You will encounter at least one on your GED social studies test! Tips for Reading Historical Documents
Some Very Basic Social Studies Videos for GED Students
These short videos cover some vital basic information about American history and government that you are expected to already know before you take your social studies test.Levels and Branches of U.S. Government (Democracy/Checks and Balances/Federalism, etc)
After watching the video, click here to check your understanding with a few review questions.
Colonialism & Early Exploration in America (Columbus, pilgrims, colonies, slaves, etc.)
After watching the video, try these three review questions.
The Revolutionary War
The Civil War
After watching the video, click here to show what you know about the Civil War for your GED test. (3 questions)
World War II - 1923 (Roosevelt, Great Depression, Stock Market Crash, Fascism, Hitler, Holocaust, Japan, Pearl Harbor, Allied Forces, D-Day, etc)
After watching the video, try these 3 practice questions about WW2.